Templeton Middle School eighth-grader Ryan Golner won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 14. Second place went to eighth-grader Tyler Wischnefski, and eighth-grader Alan Mamerow took third place. The school-level bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was part of the 2009 National Geographic Bee. The bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

All Templeton students participated in a preliminary round by taking a 25-question written test. Students who scored highest on that test advanced to the semi-final round and included Golner, Wischnefski, Mamerow, Conner Ladwig, Robert Little, Evon Selestow and Kyle Youngblood.

As the school finalist, Golner took a written test to qualify to compete at the state level. Up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete April 3 in the state Geographic Bee. The winner of the state bee will travel to Washington, D.C., to complete in national competition.